Special to WorldTribune.com

Iran on Nov. 3 detained five more news professionals in an ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression in the Islamic Republic.

Two of the five journalists, Isa Saharkhiz and Ehsun Mazandarani, were identified by The Associated Press, citing Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency.

The journalists were accused of cooperating with “anti-revolutionary” foreign media outlets.

Opposition activists have said the regime’s crackdown on journalists is worse now under self-described “moderate” President Hassan Rouhani than it was under his predecessor, hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Saharkhiz had been released from prison in 2013 after being arrested for openly criticizing the government in interviews with foreign media after Iran’s 2009 post-election unrest.

Mazandarani, who had been detained in 2012, was editor-in-chief of the moderate daily newspaper Farhikhtegan.

All media outlets in Iran are required to get approval from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance to ensure they comply with Teheran’s strict code of morality.

Iran’s crackdown on freedom expression includes blocking many social media websites, including Facebook and Twitter.

Last month, Iranian authorities detained nearly a dozen journalists, accusing them of cooperation with foreign news outlets.

  Hassan Rouhani, Iran arrests five journalists in continuing media crackdown, strict code of morality, WorldTribune.com